A/HRC/16/3 16. The delegation highlighted Liberia’s many achievements in the area of economic, social and cultural rights. It stated that, while employment for a greater percentage of Liberian youths remained a great challenge, the country had taken measures, including the Liberian Employment Action Plan (LEAP), to address the problem that it had identified. 17. With regard to the right to education, Liberia had re-launched a free and compulsory primary education programme. With respect to women and education, the national policy on girls’ education had been launched in April 2006. With a view to promoting basic education for all, the country was implementing an accelerated learning programme, which targeted individuals between the ages of 8 and 15. Additionally, Liberia had completed the non-formal education curriculum and improved the adult literacy programme targeting individuals between the ages of 15 and 35 who required literacy, numeracy, life skills and work readiness training. Furthermore, Liberia had incorporated a peace, human rights and citizenship education programme into the curriculums of elementary, junior and secondary schools and had trained teachers in methods for teaching the programme. 18. Concerning the issue of violence against women, Liberia, in view of the high incidence of rape against girls and women, had enacted legislation to amend the new Penal Code of 1976 (the Rape Law), had launched a National Gender-Based Violence Plan of Action, had created the Special Court for Rape and Other Forms of Violence, and had established the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit. The Unit had helped to increase the number of sexual offences cases reported and prosecuted, had created wide public awareness regarding issues related to sexual and gender-based violence, and was working with the police and medical professionals to provide holistic care to victims. 19. The Anti-Human Trafficking Act had been adopted in 2005, and an inter-ministerial task force had been established. 20. Liberia, recognizing the devastating effects of the civil conflict on children, and following the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, had taken measures aimed at the protection and promotion of the rights of children. Some of those measures had been mentioned. 21. Since its establishment in 2005, the Liberian National Commission on Disabilities had consistently carried out the task of protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, and a number of activities had been carried out in that regard. Liberia had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. However, despite those achievements, persons with disabilities continued to face serious challenges in the country. 22. Other initiatives to improve the human rights situation included the establishment of the Governance Commission, the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Land Commission. Liberia was committed to continuing to work with national and international partners to strengthen national institutions protecting and promoting the human rights of citizens. 23. Liberia continued to face challenges and constraints, and it enumerated a number of these. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 24. Algeria welcomed the fact that a woman candidate had been elected in 2005, and noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in resettling displaced persons and refugees, restoring the administration, the economy and infrastructure, and reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights. It noted that, unfortunately, the socio-economic situation 5

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